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The tween years are a time of transition and change. A tween is maturing into a teenager physically, emotionally, and socially and they are learning to take on new responsibilities at school and home. Parents of tweens notice a lot of changes in their children over these few years. They are no longer your little girl or boy, but they still need you. While your tween may be showing increased independence and skill-building, they rely on you to help them with all of the new challenges they face....

Parents can witness their baby developing in the womb today more than ever, leading many to wonder just how much a baby can do while still in the womb. We know that babies can practice sucking while still in the womb and that they can swallow. Do babies cry in the womb? We all know that babies spend a significant amount of time crying outside of the womb, but do they start flexing those crying muscles early on in their development?...

Your to-do list can seem overwhelming when you have a baby, and freeing up your hands to complete household tasks is invaluable. Baby swings provide a safe, comfortable environment for your baby when they are awake and supervised. They allow you to take a much-needed break from rocking and bouncing your little one during the day. Like all baby items, parents must use swings per manufacturer instructions for them to be considered safe....

Newborns may be tough, but they’re also mostly immobile, highly portable, and sleep for 14 hours a day. Having a baby who spends more time needing attention, distraction, and entertainment every day is a whole different ball game. That doesn’t mean it isn’t fun! in fact, for many parents (like those who were less than impressed with the exhaustion and monotony of the newborn phase), this is the stage when it starts to feel like you really have a baby—one of those doe-eyed, chubby-cheeked, babbling, drooling, bouncing little ones you’ve heard all about, with toothless smiles and leg rolls for days....

A groundbreaking new study released in Pediatrics on Sept. 19, 2022, showed family evictions have been linked to poor health and hunger in children and families, especially those with children under 4 years old. Those families also have children who have more frequently been admitted to hospitals via emergency rooms. Additionally, mothers who have been evicted are more likely to report depressive symptoms. These eviction conditions are compounded by rising inflation, as well as the increase in the cost of groceries and other necessities....

That’s not to say today’s teens are lazier than ever. There can be lots of challenges that complicate traditional employment for teens. Lack of transportation, being too young to get a job, or lack of job opportunities are just a few of the reasons some teens struggle to find work. But, if your teen still wants to earn money, starting a business may be an option. Surveys show the vast majority of young people want to own a business someday....

In recent years, the peace of mind that comes with home security has become a priority for many households. With reliable do-it-yourself security cameras like the Google Nest Cam Indoor, you can get all the features you want (and more) at a relatively fair price with barely any setup. The Nest Cam Indoor, in particular, is designed to fit seamlessly into your lifestyle and make it easy for you to monitor the day-to-day activities in your home (like package delivery, a child napping, or the arrival of your dog walker) but that’s not to say it’s any less qualified to help you protect your home while you’re out of town....

During a baby’s first year of life, there are so many safety precautions a parent needs to take, which isn’t always easy while traveling. The Graco Pack ‘n Play Portable Playard offers a safe sleep and play space for babies in a compact and easy-to-carry travel bag. The pack n’ play is designed with safety, durability, and convenience in mind. Keep reading for all the details of our testing. Setup Process: Like riding a bike I’ve used a different, but similarly designed, portable play yard before so my knowledge may have helped me here, but the setup was fairly intuitive....

The presence of hCG helps confirm pregnancy. But beyond that, levels of hCG can help doctors gather information about early pregnancy, including whether or not a miscarriage is occurring. The levels of hCG in a pregnant person’s blood rise rapidly, doubling every two to three days. This is known as hCG doubling time. When this does not occur as expected, it could be cause for concern. This concern does sometimes prove to be justified....

There are many definitions of prematurity, but the mostly widely accepted are: Late preterm infants: Gestational age (GA) between 34 weeks and 36 weeks and 6 days Moderate preterm infants: GA between 32 weeks and 33 weeks and 6 days Very preterm (VPT) infants: GA at or below 32 weeks Extremely preterm (EPT) infants: GA at or below 28 weeks (also called a micro-preemie) In the final months of pregnancy, the fetus is growing quickly....

But not all procedures that appear to be high risk are officially designated as such, including vaginal delivery. Giving birth vaginally isn’t considered a high-risk or aerosol-generating (meaning healthcare workers are at a higher risk for contracting infection) procedure by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As a result, PPE like N95 masks aren’t recommended for labor and delivery staff. A new study from UCLA, published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, found that respiratory emissions during labor and delivery can travel faster—and potentially farther—than a simple cough, thereby increasing the risk of respiratory disease transmission (such as the COVID-19 virus)....

Overview Poor school performance can lead to feelings of failure and increased stress, exacerbating the depression. There are steps and strategies that parents can take to help support their child or teen. It is important to understand how depression can affect learning and school achievement to find ways to tweak your approach specifically to your child. To understand how depression can affect learning, it is important to make a quick review of some depression symptoms and how they can impact learning....

The AAP’s new recommendations acknowledge that technology is integrated into our daily lives, making it nearly impossible to police a strict two-hour per day limit on school-age children. Additionally, technology can be a valuable component of learning. Children access computers and tablets at school and use computers to do their homework. But, some kids are growing dependent on their devices. They’re using video games and TV as their main form of entertainment and they’re replacing face-to-face communication with text messages and social media....

Sometimes peer influences can be positive like encouraging each other to try new things or step out of their comfort zone in a positive way. But peer pressure also can be negative, especially when it relates to drugs, alcohol use, and even bullying. How Bullying Starts With Peer Pressure Peer pressure is pressure from others to conform to the behaviors, attitudes and personal habits of a group or clique. Sometimes kids within a clique will pressure other kids to participate in bullying....

While you might not want to share every gritty detail with your son or daughter regarding why their father is absent, there are ways to answer their questions that help children feel more secure. To accomplish this, it helps to do a little planning advance. For instance, knowing what questions your child might ask as well as having some pre-prepared responses will help you avoid feeling put on the spot or caught you off guard when your kids ask about their dad....

If possible, volunteer and back up the coach’s decisions and lessons, and help create an environment where your kid can succeed. Then you step back and let them do the hard work. In short, you’re a team player no matter the sport. Show Support Your child can’t play a sport without your active support—that means financial, logistical, and emotional. Having kids involved in youth sports can really tax your family’s schedule along with your wallet, so this situation is a tough one....

If you and your family would like to take part in the Pride festivities, we have rounded up five fun ways to do it. Get ready to parade, craft, and share stories. But first, learn a bit more about Pride and why it’s such a meaningful celebration. What is Pride Month? Pride month pays homage to The Stonewall Riots that took place on June 28, 1969 at The Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street in New York....

Ahead, learn more about if you should clean your child’s ears, how to safely do it, and when it might be time to call your pediatrician. Plus, find out whether cotton swabs are OK to use. Should I Clean My Child’s Ears? Our ear canals produce a substance called cerumen, otherwise known as earwax, due to it being a similar consistency to household wax. It provides a waterproof barrier to protect the eardrum from water, dust, dirt, and other debris....